Simcha v’Tuv Leivav – Different types of Simcha b’Mitzvos(תחת אשר לא עבדת ה' אליךבשמחה והטוב לבב-פרשת כי תבא)-One may ask, what are the two different types of simcha b’mitzvos referred to in the Passuk, and more specifically what does "טוב לבב" mean?From the sefer מוסר אביך I understood a fundamental interpretation which teaches us two distinct ways to enjoy mitzvos.Let’s explain with a mashal. Two middle-class, car loving neighbors decide they need new cars. One goes to the local Toyota dealer and walks out with that year’s Corolla. The other enters a raffle for a Lamborghini, and against all odds, wins ‏the raffle!Certainly, both are happy, but there is a great difference in the type of happiness each experiences. The Corolla purchaser feels content and satisfied with his purchase. It fits, and when things fit we are happy. The Lamborghini owner has a completely different feeling. He is pinching himself to make sure this is real. The joy comes from the fact that it doesn’t fit yet he does have it. He is past content. He is tremendously excited that something beyond his wildest dreams and expectations occurred.In mitzvos, interestingly, both feelings are appropriate. On the one hand, of course, they fit. Mitzvos are naturally suitable for Klal Yisrael. They were created for us and given to us. Studying their halachos and philosophy brings them that much more into reach.On the other hand, ‏they are so far beyond us. Generally speaking, every Mitzvah is the will of the infinite One and is directly connected to the endless World to Come. How can finite beings do them? Specifically, each individual mitzvah has omek upon omek. Think about this; if we would study only one Mitzvah for the rest of our lives we wouldn’t (nearly) plumb all its depths! Yet, we do them. Every time we do a mitzvah we are actually driving a beautiful, sleek Lamborghini! We should pinch ourselves to make sure we aren’t dreaming.We now have the context to unravel our original questions. The Corolla feeling is “tuv leivav”, the Lamborghini feeling is “simcha”. The Passuk is indicating the two ways for us to enjoy Mitzvos. We should have the “good-hearted” joy of doing something which so perfectly fits and feel the exhilarating joy of being intimately involved with something so far beyond us.To experience these feelings we should first align ourselves with the ideas intellectually. Do we understand these two aspects? We must realize that mitzvos, enigmatically, fit us and are beyond us. Take a moment and allow both of these concepts to resonate with you.Once we have a solid intellectual basis, we can search for these feelings in ourselves and focus before doing mitzvos to create these two ‏distinct joys. Take a short moment before putting on your Teffilin, davening or doing a chesed and try to experience these essential feelings. Perhaps try one mitzvah with the “tuv leivav” feeling, another one with the “simcha” feeling and yet another one with both feelings at once.As we have pointed out in this forum many times, simcha b’mitzvos is an amazingly important foundation in our Yiddishkeit. Knowing, experiencing and searching for different types of mitzvah joy can, b”h, bring us to a totally different level of affinity with it.

Initial Kabbala – Take a moment before doing three different mitzvos and try to come in contact with both of these feelings.Advanced Kabbala – Focus for a whole week on doing one mitzvah b’tuv leivav and a different mitzvah b’simcha.Enduring Kabbala – At the end of the week try to introduce a perennial connection to both of these ideas.​(Please send comments and questions, to rdsvaad@gmail.com.)​If you would like to receive these Avodah thougths every 2 weeks sign up at http://rdsvaadim.com/subscribe/